Mabia lambasts lack of support from weightlifting federation

Mabia, the South Asian Games gold-medalist, lifted a total 178kg with 77kg in snatch and 101 kg in clean and jerk to be ranked at sixth out of as many participants where North Korean weightlifter Kim Hyo Sim won gold with 250kg

Bangladesh’s flag-bearer at the Asian Games 2018, Mabia Aktar Shimanto couldn’t hold her anger for the lack of facilities provided by the weightlifting federation that placed her at the bottom of the women’s 63kg event at JIExpo Hall in North Jakarta on Friday.

Mabia, the South Asian Games gold-medalist, lifted a total 178kg with 77kg in snatch and 101 kg in clean and jerk to be ranked at sixth out of as many participants where North Korean weightlifter Kim Hyo Sim won gold with 250kg.

The difference between the Asia’s best and to that of South Asia was there as Mabia was the only representative from South Asia after Indian weightlifter Rakhi Halder withdrew her name.

After finishing her event, the 19-year-old appeared at the mixed zone with an angry expression all over her face. She said, “I get no support from the federation. A one-and-half month of training is nothing. I have made it so far because of my own efforts.

Bangladesh’s lone weightlifter at the Asiad, Mabia added, “There are no facilities back home, no camp and no planning. We are falling further and further behind. If we continue like this, we wouldn’t even able to qualify for the next Asian Games.”